Rain rescues Somerset as Warwickshire only manage a draw in Taunton - The Solihull Observer

Rain rescues Somerset as Warwickshire only manage a draw in Taunton

Solihull Editorial 25th May, 2017   0

CRICKET: RAIN disrupted play at Taunton throughout the weekend at Warwickshire’s County Championship fixture against Somerset ended in a draw.

The man of the moment went to Marcus Trescothick as the 41-year-old passed 25,000 first class runs on Sunday while scoring his 50th first class century for the county.

Trescothick made 106 in Somerset’s disappointing first innings total of 230.

It was also a day to remember for Coventry seam bowler Grant Thornton, who picked up four wickets for just 34 runs in the home side’s first innings.




Somerset had begun the final day on 94 for four in reply to Warwickshire’s 413.

Trescothick reached a half-century with a boundary to mid-wicket off Jeetan Patel in the second over of the morning.


Together with Jack Leach, he took the total onto 127 when the nightwatchman fell lbw to Rikki Clarke for 16.

Trescothick was joined by Pete Trego and the pair stayed together until lunch, by which time the score had moved onto 178 without further loss.

Resuming on 89 after the break, Trescothick edged his way into the 90s before eventually going to his century with a single to mid-wicket off Thornton.

The crowd stood to mark Trescothick’s record-breaking ton, which came off 180 balls, with 11 fours.

Trego had moved onto 34 when he looked to have been caught by Jonathan Trott at first slip off Thornton.

The Warwickshire fielders celebrated, but the batsmen stood his ground and was given not out after umpire Alex Wharf consulted his square leg colleague Paul Baldwin.

In Thornton’s next over he had Trescothick caught behind by Tim Ambrose trying to drive a wider ball.

With his next delivery the 24-year-old accounted for Roelof van der Merwe with a yorker.

More wickets tumbled quickly.

Trego remained at the crease and went to his half-century, off 124 balls with his fifth boundary, through the slips off Patel, but the bowler got his revenge two balls later as Somerset were all out for a dismal 230.

Following on 183 runs behind, Somerset were soon in trouble again as Sunny Singh had Dean Elgar caught at short mid wicket by Ian Bell with just one run on the board.

Abell, with only ten runs to his name in five Championship innings this season, joined Trescothick and the two started to take their side towards safety. Trescothick took a boundary off Patel to see up the 50.

In the gathering gloom the Somerset pair saw the score onto 86 off 25.1 overs when the players shook hands and the game ended in a draw. Warwickshire took 12 points and Somerset eight.

Warwickshire captain Ian Bell said: “I thought we put in a good performance and the weather got in the way of what would have been a very good win for us.

“I am really pleased with our performance and the new guys who came in have started to look like they can play, which is a real step forward for us.”

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